We've just returned from a multiple-city central/eastern European trip, and thoroughly enjoyed traveling to various sights relying on the excellent Rick Steves guidebooks for each city. One city was Budapest, and we thought a word of caution was warranted as to the city's famed thermal baths.
The baths are touted in the Budapest guidebook as "the city's top attraction" (Fifth Ed., at 85). Having partaken of the Szechenyi baths in the northeastern part of the city a couple of weeks ago, we thought we would add to the cautionary notes included in the Steeves book, which warns germophobes of the unusual, shared-experience feature of the baths. At Szechenyi, the baths consist of a series of interior pools, of varying temperatures and mineral content, and they emit a strong sulphur-like smell. The outdoor baths are three large swimming pools, also of varying temperature and mineral content. However, at the height of the travel season, such as during our visit in August 2017, the facilities are packed with bathers, both locals and tourists. They are noisy and crowded, like an over-attended suburban swimming pool or beach. The sheer number of people and the resulting cacophony made the visit anything but relaxing. So, you might think twice about going, at least to this particular thermal bath, during the touristy summer months.